Ice skate walking appliance



c. c. C OLBERT ICE SKATE WALKING APPLIANCE Filed April 28, 1958 i wi 1N VENTOR,

Q. A Man, W y

Patented Apr. 25, 1939 UNETED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application April 28,

10 Claims.

My invention relates to devices to be applied under and attached to ice skates to provide walking treads therefor.

Appliances of this nature are intended to enable ice skaters while wearing their skates to walk on them to and from the ice without difficulty and without dulling their skate blades by bringing them repeatedly into contact with the ground. Without such appliances, ice skaters are subjected to the inconvenience of having to change from their walking shoes to their skating shoes at the skating rink or ice pond, and of having to provide for the safe-guarding of their walking shoes while they are skating. If they drive to the skating rink and change their shoes in a parked automobile, they must hobble on their skates to and from the ice, which is awkward and involves the risk of possibly turning the ankle as well as dulling the edges of the skate blades.

An object of this invention is to provide highly practicable and convenient ice skate walking appliances, and more especially to improve such appliances with respect to the mode of attaching the ground treading supports to the skates.

The matter of attachment has presented a problem because of the severe strains imposed in walking on skates equipped with such appliances. In walking, as the skater moves one foot forward he momentarily throws his weight on the ball of the other foot while lifting the heel. Thus the ground treading support or member on which the skate rests becomes momentarily a lever fulcrummed at the toe and sustaining a load between the toe and lifted heel, which tends to force down the rear end of the support and may cause breakage of ordinary strap bindings or accidental detachment of the supports from the skates if they are fastened by releasable snap fastenings or the like.

It has been proposed to attach the ground treading supports to the skates by positive clamps or other metallic positive fastening devices, but such devices are undesirably complicated and expensive besides taking time and trouble to manipulate. They are liable to rattle when they become loose, and are subject to rust during the summer months. Again, it has been proposed to bind the ground treading supports to the skaters feet by broad straps passing across the insteps, but such straps involve additional bulk and are more or less of a nuisance, requiring tedious manipulations to draw them tight over the insteps and fasten them, and when drawn tight and fastened they are liable to work down 1938, Serial N0. 204,785

and become loose, allowing clopping of the heel portions of the supports.

With the object of avoiding annoyances and objections such as above indicated, and providing ice skate walking appliances of simple and satisfactory nature, which can be easily, quickly and conveniently applied and held securely and firmly to the skates; and with the further object providing attaching means whereby the ground treading suports will be held to the skates in such a manner as to give a cushioning effect in walking, I have devised an improved construction of which an illustrative example is shown in the accompanying drawing.

In said drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an ice skate equipped with a walking appliance embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional View of said appliance, showing in full lines the rear portion of the skate in an inclined position as the skate heel is being inserted under rear binding means, and showing in dotted lines the skate brought down to nearly but not quite a full rest position on the ground treading support.

Fig. 3 is a cross section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 4 is a cross section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 5 is a top plan View of the walking appliance detached from the skate.

The illustrative embodiment of my invention shown in the drawing is adapted for application to an ice skate of a conventional type and construction now in popular use. It will be understood, however, that the invention may be em bodied in various forms and applied to skates of various constructions, so that the following description with reference to the drawing is to be considered exemplary and not as limiting the invention beyond the terms of the claims.

In the drawing, the reference numeral I designates a skating shoe, the sole and heel of which are riveted to the sole plate 2 and heel plate 3 of an ice skate. Supporting posts for the sole plate and heel plate are designated by the reference numerals 4 and 5, said posts being affixed on the longitudinal frame bar 6 which carries the skate blade or runner 8. The conventional skate frame construction shown is characterized by a tubular frame bar 6 stamped or pressed from sheet metal and having depending flanges l which embrace and are welded to the blade 8.

The skate is equipped with a dependable appendage comprising the ground treading support 9 and attaching means therefor hereinafter described. Said support 9, having a broad base portion to provide a suitable tread for walking purposes, is formed for interfitting engagement with the skate blade, whereby the skate resting on the support is held erect thereon or prevented from tilting relatively to the support. Such a support may be of various different specific forms and of different materials including metal. In thepreferred form shown, the ground treading support 9 consists of a strip of hardwood having its toe or front end tapered and beveled on the under side so as to resemble a short ski. The wood strip is formed with a longitudinal groove I in whichthe skate blade 8 is inserted, the side walls of said groove typifying abutments for interfitting engagement with the skate blade. The skate may be supported by having the skate blade rest on the bottom of the groove I0, or, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the skate frame bar 6 may rest directly on the top of the support. The support 9 may have a rounded top or be otherwise suitably formed to provide a substantially greater thickness at its longitudinal center than at its longitudinal edges, thus obtaining lightness of construction with adequate strength and an adequate depth of groove. In the specific form shown, the support is shaped from a wood piece of originally nearly semi-circular cross section by forming it with lateral longitudinal grooves II, which reduce the weight of the support and give it an ornamental stream-line effect, and also function to accommodate the strap fastening shown in Fig. 3. The bottom or tread surface of the support may be either smooth or corrugated or of other anti-skid form, and may be either flat or slightly concave or other suitable form to provide a suitable bottom tread surface.

For attaching the ground treading support to the skate, I provide novel attaching means giving improved results, including a firm and reliable binding of the heel portion of the support to the skate, ready attachability and detachability, and a cushioning effect in walking.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 4, the heel portion of the ground treading support 9 is firmly bound to the rear portion of the skate frame by a strong tensioned binding I2. This binding may comprise a broad thick band of relatively stiff elastic material, such as the fabric-reinforced rubber used for rubber belting, secured around the support and engageable over the rear portion of the skate frame. The band does not have to go clear around the support. As shown, it may be a onepiece strip of heavy elastic material arranged across the support and having its ends secured thereto, as, for example, by fastening means I4. Said elastic band I2 has insufiicient slack and insufficient yieldability to permit it to be drawn to position for insertion of the skate heel under it while the skate is in horizontal position on the support. In order to engage the band over the rear portion of the skate frame, the heel of the skate must be inserted under the top portion of the band by backing it thereunder while the skate is held applied to the support in an inclined position as shown in Fig. 2. To permit such insertion the heel portion of the support is provided with a recess l3 open at the top and in communication with the longitudinal groove l0. Said recess I3 may be open both at the top and bottom as shown in the drawing, the support 9 in the specific construction shown being bifurcated at its rear end to provide the recess.

. By reference to Figs. 2 and 4, it will be readily apparent that by applying the skate to the ground treading support in the inclined position shown in Fig. 2, with the skate blade 6 engaged in the longitudinal groove II], the heel of the skate can be inserted by backward movement into the recess I3 under the elastic band I2, which provides a keeper secured across the recessed rear portion of the support. The skate may then be brought to rest on the support, thereby placing the elastic band under tension by the upward thrust against it of the short lever arm provided by the heel portion of the skate. In Fig. 2, the dotted lines show the skate brought down tonearly but not quite a full rest position on the support, the elastic band I2 having been stretched from the full line position to the dotted line position in Fig. 3, i. e. from the slack position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4 to the tense position shown in full lines in Fig. 4. By drawing the front of the skate down further to full rest position on the support, an additional tension will be imposed on the elastic band, drawing it very tight.

The elastic band I2 is inseparable in the sense that it has no free ends to be drawn together and fastened. In the specific construction shown in Fig. 4, the band is a one-piece strip having its end portions brought under the support 9 and fastened thereto by the nails or driven fastenings I4. This is to allow the recess I3 to be open at the bottom so as to permit insertion of the skate heel into the recess without encountering any obstruction by the bottom run of the elastic band. However the elastic band in the construction shown functions similarly to an endless elastic band, being secured under tension around the support and the heel portion of the skate frame. It may if desired be actually endless and go clear across the bottom of the support. Or it may be a short piece arranged across the recessed rear portion of the support and having its ends fastened to opposite sides thereof.

In the operation of inserting the skate heel under the elastic band, it is not necessary to exercise care to keep the skate blade in a vertical plane. In other words the skater in applying the device to his skate can back the skate heel into the recess, under the bridge or keeper provided by the elastic band, while the skate is more or less in a laterally canted or tilted position, though with the blade engaged with the groove Ill.

Supplemental attaching means, cooperating with the elastic band I2 to secure the ground treading support to the skate frame, is provided as for example by a strap I5 adapted to be drawn tightly around fore portions of the support and skate frame in front of the post 4. Said strap I5 is shown in Fig. 3 attached to the support by the nails I6, and has separable ends equipped with fastening means which may be of the type em ployed for artic overshoes or galoshes; such fastening means comprising the pivoted hook or hasp I'I carried by one end of the strap. and adapted to engage any one of a plurality-of slots or apertures in the plate I8 carried by the other end of the strap; such mode of fastening permitting adjustment for drawing the strap tight. The strap may be of leather or of slightly elastic material such as the rubberized leather used for- It will be understood that variin the strap, and the strong tension of the elastic band i2, pulling down on the heel portion of the skate, will tend to force up the toe of the skate against the resistance of the strap I5. This will give a cushioning effect .in walking, for as the skater lifts his foot the toe of his skate will be slightly raised from full rest position on the support, for instance to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, and as the skater places his foot on the ground he will bring the fore portion of his skate to full rest position on the support against the resistance and cushioning effect of the elastic band i2.

It will be observed that the strap fastening comprising the members I! and I8 is opposite one of the grooves H, which groove accommodates the fastening and allows inward movement of the pivot of the hasp I! as it is manipulated to be disengaged from the slotted plate l8.

In the specific construction shown, the bottoms of the elastic band 12 and fore attaching strap- !5 are fitted in transverse grooves in the bottom of the ground treading support, so that the bottoms of the elastic band and strap are flush with the bottoms of the support. If desired to have the bottom of the support perfectly smooth, the portions of the elastic band I2 and attaching strap I 5 which go under the support could be omitted and said band and strap could be suitably riveted or fastened to the sides of the support, the latter being appropriately formed as for instance by giving it a substantially semicircular cross section.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that I have thus provided an exceedingly practicable, efficient and convenient device. The skater wearing the skate can easily attach the walking appliance by applying his skate thereto in the manner shown in Fig. 2, backing the heel of the skate under the elastic band and then bringing the skate down to full rest position on the ground treading support and connecting the strap I! tightly around the fore portion of the skate frame.

The grooved Wood strip used as the ground treading support provides an excellent type of support and means for protecting the skate blades. The groove H) could be supplied with grease or lined with grease-impregnated material for keeping the skate blade from rusting.

Convenient and reliable walking appliances of the character described have many practical advantages. The skater can easily slip them onto his skates at home, in a Warm room, and walk or drive to the skating rink, saving himself all that inconvenience and trouble of changing from his regular shoes to his skates and vice versa at the rink. He can drive a car as far as he wishes while wearing skates equipped with these appliances. After arriving at the skating rink it is only necessary to unfasten and slip oif the appendages, which can be left in the automobile or stuck into the pocket. If one tires after skating awhile, as so often happens if one has not been used to skating, one can rest his ankles by stepping with his skates into the appendages. The appendages are of light weight, simple to get on and off, and in the form shown are harmless to carpets, rugs or polished floors. Also they permit walking in slushy snow while keeping the feet dry.

When ones ice skates are not in use, the appendages can be left attached to them for pro tecting the blades from rusting, the grooves ID of the ground treading supports being lubricated or lined with grease impregnated material, and oiled cotton or the like being packed into the recesses l3 around the heel portions of the skate blades.

I claim as my invention:

1. An ice skate walking appliance comprising a ground treading support adapted to hold an ice skate erect thereon, said support having a longitudinal groove to receive the skate blade and having in its rear portion a recess open at the top and communicating with said groove, means for holding the rear portion of said support to the rear portion of the skate frame comprising a keeper secured across the top of said recessed rear portion of the support and engageable over the rear portion of the skate frame by backing the latter thereunder while holding the skate applied to the support in an inclined position with the toe of the skate elevated from said support, said keeper being tensioned by upward thrust of the rear portion of the skate frame thereagainst when the skate is brought to normal rest position on the support, and additional at-- taching means cooperating with said keeper to secure the support in operative relation to the skate.

2. An ice skate Walking appliance comprising a ground treading support adapted to hold an ice skate erect thereon, said support having a longitudinal groove to receive the skate blade and having in its rear portion a recess open at the top and communicating with said groove, means for holding the rear portion of said support to the rear portion of the skate frame comprising a keeper secured across the top of said recessed rear portion of the support and engageable over the rear portion of the skate frame by backing the latter thereunder while holding the skate applied to the support in an inclined position with the toe of the skate elevated from said support, said keeper comprising thick, strong, elastic but only slightly yieldable material and being insufiiciently yieldable to permit it to be drawn over the rear portion of the skate frame While the skate rests horizontally on the support, the said keeper being tensioned by upward thrust of the rear portion of the skate frame thereagainst when the skate is brought to normal rest position on the support, and additional attaching means cooperating with said keeper to secure the support in operative relation to the skate.

3. An ice skate Walking appliance comprising a ground treading support adapted to hold an ice skate erect thereon, said support being formed for interfitting engagement with the skate blade and having its rear portion recessed to permit the manipulation hereinafter stated, means for binding the rear portion of the support to the rear portion of the skate frame comprising an elastic band arranged across the recessed rear portion of the support and fastened thereto at opposite sides of the recess, said band being engageable over the rear portion of the skate frame by backing the latter thereunder into the recessed rear portion of the support while holding the skate applied to the support in an inclined position with the toe of the skate elevated from the support, said band being tensioned by upward thrust thereagainst of the rear portion of the skate frame When the skate is brought to normal rest position on the support, and additional attaching means cooperating with said band to secure the support in operative relation to the skate.

4. An ice skate walking appliance comprising for interfitting engagement with the skate blade and having its rear portion recessed to permit the manipulation hereinafter stated, means for binding the rear portion-of the support to the rear portion of the skate frame-comprising an elastic band attached to the recessed rear portion of the support and engageable over the rear portion of the skate frame by backing the latter thereunder into the recessed rear portion of the support while holding the skate applied to the support in an inclined position with the toe of the skate elevated from the support, said band being of strong, thick, resistant, elastic material insufficiently yielding to permit it to be drawn over the rear portion of the skate frame while the latter is seated on the support in horizontal position and being tensioned by upward thrust thereagainst of the rear portion of sion of the skate heel therein, whereby the skate can fulcrum on said support on a fulcrum adjacent to said recessed rear portion, elastic binding means for binding the rear portion of said support to the rear portion of the skate frame,

and elastic binding means for binding the fore portion of said support to the fore portion of the skate frame, the tension of said rear elastic binding means tending to force the toe of the skate up and said rear elastic binding means being further tensioned when by downward pressure on the fore portion of the skate it is brought to full rest position, thereby providing a cushioning effect in walking.

6. An ice skate walking appliance comprising a ground treading support adapted to hold an ice skate erect thereon, said support being formed for interfitting engagement with the skate blade, inseparable elastic binding means for holding the rear portion of said support to the rear portion of the skate frame comprising a strong, thick, stiff, elastic band secured to and arranged over and across said rear portion of the support and engageable over the skate heel by backing the latter thereunder, said band being stretched by the skate heel when the skate is in normal position on said support, and additional attaching means cooperating with said binding means to secure the support in operative relation to the skate.

'7. An ice skate walking appliance comprising a ground treading support adapted to hold an ice skate erect thereon, said support formed for interfitting engagement with the skate blade and having its rear portion recessed to permit depressing the rear portion of the skate frame therein, and means for attaching said support to the skate including an inseparable elastic member secured across the recessed rear portion of said support and engageable over the rear portion of the skate frame by backing the latter thereunder while holding the skate applied to the support in an inclined position with the toe of the skate elevated from the support, said member being tensioned by upward pressure of the rear portion of the skate frame thereagainst when the skate is brought to normal rest position on said support.

8. An ice skate walking appliance of the character set forth in claim 7 wherein the support comprises an elongated wood strip having in its upper side a longitudinal groove to receive the skate blade and having its rear end portion bifurcated to provide a recess for backing the heel of the skate thereinto.

9. An ice skate walking appliance of the character set forth in claim 7 wherein the support comprises an elongated wood strip having in its upper side a longitudinal groove to receive the skate blade, said strip having a rounded top and having lateral longitudinal grooves affording ornament, reduction of material and accommodating the fastening for the fore binding means.

10. An ice skate walking appliance comprising a ground treading support adapted to hold an ice skate erect thereon, binding means for inseparable elastic binding the rear portion of said support to the rear portion of the skate frame, said binding means comprising a strong, thick, stifi, elastic band secured to and arranged over and across said rear portion of the said support and engageable under tension over the skate heel, and elastic binding means for binding a fore portion of the suppor to a fore portion of the skate frame.

CHARLES C. COLBERT. 

